❓ A parliamentary question regarding Iluka Resources' job cuts in WA due to the economic downturn, and the government's response outlining assistance measures and long-term strategies for the mining sector. The Minister details the redundancy packages and the government's investment in geological surveys and drilling to stimulate future growth.
AnsweredQoN 340Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
ILUKA RESOURCES — REDUNDANCIES
I refer the minister to today’s announcement that mineral sands miner Iluka Resources will cut 215 jobs from its operations in Western Australia. (1) When was the minister first advised of Iluka’s decision? (2) What assistance will the government provide to these workers? (3) What plans will the government put into place to address not just these job cuts, but also those already announced? Hon NORMAN MOORE
I refer the minister to today’s announcement that mineral sands miner Iluka Resources will cut 215 jobs from its operations in Western Australia. (1) When was the minister first advised of Iluka’s decision? (2) What assistance will the government provide to these workers? (3) What plans will the government put into place to address not just these job cuts, but also those already announced? Hon NORMAN MOORE
AnswerView source ↗
(1)-(3) I was advised by letter today, and the letter was sent up to Parliament House, as I was here all day. I received it at 10.30 am or thereabouts—it may have been a bit later. The letter advised me that Iluka was adjusting its operations and, as a result of that, 135 positions would be made redundant and 80 contractor positions made redundant. The company advised me that it has its own comprehensive arrangements for career transition, financial planning and counselling advice, although the company is very willing to work with relevant government agencies to assist employees who will be made redundant. The government, like everybody else, is concerned about the increased number of mining employees who are losing their jobs as a result of the economic downturn affecting the world. As I said on a previous occasion, there is very little that the state government can do about commodity prices and very little it can do about resurrecting the world economy and thereby creating the demand for our commodities that existed prior to this downturn. However, we can work very hard on making sure that we put in place strategies that will encourage mining companies to begin developments—a number would in fact go into business now once a number of approvals have been put in place. As I read out earlier today, the government has announced that $80 million will be spent over five years—just a small amount this year, and most will be spent in the next four years—to encourage drilling by drilling companies, and that will pick up employment in the drilling industry. It will also assist, in particular, junior miners to explore in greenfields areas. The intention of all this, along with the significant increase in funding to the Geological Survey of Western Australia, is to use this period of downturn to improve and enhance the state’s understanding of its geology. I recall back in 2001, at the time of the Asian economic crisis and the downturn in the mining industry, announcing a Liberal Party initiative of $66 million for the Geological Survey. The intention of that investment was to use the downturn to pick up the slack in the drilling industry and to assist small mining companies to begin to carry out more exploration in Western Australia, and as a result of that hopefully find the ore bodies that would provide for the growth in the future. The interesting thing about Western Australia is that it is enormously wealthy in terms of resources, but it is largely unexplored. Vast areas of the state will now be explored as a result of this injection of funds into that activity. I know that does not solve the problems of those 5 000 employees who have lost their jobs as a result of the economic downturn, but it will provide employment for people in drilling companies who are not getting any work, and it will provide assistance to those companies involved in aeromagnetic surveys and all the other things that the Geological Survey will be engaged in. The government is looking to the future to make sure it can create the jobs of the future that are necessary. In respect of the circumstances facing employees who are made redundant, we have been monitoring each company’s redundancy package and, as a I explained to the house on a previous occasion, the BHP Billiton redundancy package was, in my view, quite a good package: 16 weeks’ pay, plus two weeks for every year of service, and it also purchased back houses from employees. The government is ensuring that companies that are putting off people are providing adequate and proper redundancy provisions. That is happening. In the longer term, the federal government is involved with unemployment benefits, and they will be provided as a matter of right and as a matter of course in the event that the economy does not turn around quickly. Finally, I can say that there are the occasional glimpses of silver lining in the clouds. I would not want to try to predict the future of the world economy, although the government has high hopes for projects that I talked about in a previous debate, such as Oakajee, the significant work that has been done in the Browse Basin, the potential for Gorgon, and a number of significant developments with BHP, Rio Tinto, Fortescue Metals and other companies in respect of iron ore in the Pilbara. There are some silver linings in the clouds, but obviously the government cannot employ all those people who have lost their jobs. All we can do is help make sure that jobs are available.
(1) When was the minister first advised of Iluka’s decision? (2) What assistance will the government provide to these workers? (3) What plans will the government put into place to address not just these job cuts, but also those already announced? Hon NORMAN MOORE replied: (1)-(3) I was advised by letter today, and the letter was sent up to Parliament House, as I was here all day. I received it at 10.30 am or thereabouts—it may have been a bit later. The letter advised me that Iluka was adjusting its operations and, as a result of that, 135 positions would be made redundant and 80 contractor positions made redundant. The company advised me that it has its own comprehensive arrangements for career transition, financial planning and counselling advice, although the company is very willing to work with relevant government agencies to assist employees who will be made redundant. The government, like everybody else, is concerned about the increased number of mining employees who are losing their jobs as a result of the economic downturn affecting the world. As I said on a previous occasion, there is very little that the state government can do about commodity prices and very little it can do about resurrecting the world economy and thereby creating the demand for our commodities that existed prior to this downturn. However, we can work very hard on making sure that we put in place strategies that will encourage mining companies to begin developments—a number would in fact go into business now once a number of approvals have been put in place. As I read out earlier today, the government has announced that $80 million will be spent over five years—just a small amount this year, and most will be spent in the next four years—to encourage drilling by drilling companies, and that will pick up employment in the drilling industry. It will also assist, in particular, junior miners to explore in greenfields areas. The intention of all this, along with the significant increase in funding to the Geological Survey of Western Australia, is to use this period of downturn to improve and enhance the state’s understanding of its geology. I recall back in 2001, at the time of the Asian economic crisis and the downturn in the mining industry, announcing a Liberal Party initiative of $66 million for the Geological Survey. The intention of that investment was to use the downturn to pick up the slack in the drilling industry and to assist small mining companies to begin to carry out more exploration in Western Australia, and as a result of that hopefully find the ore bodies that would provide for the growth in the future. The interesting thing about Western Australia is that it is enormously wealthy in terms of resources, but it is largely unexplored. Vast areas of the state will now be explored as a result of this injection of funds into that activity. I know that does not solve the problems of those 5 000 employees who have lost their jobs as a result of the economic downturn, but it will provide employment for people in drilling companies who are not getting any work, and it will provide assistance to those companies involved in aeromagnetic surveys and all the other things that the Geological Survey will be engaged in. The government is looking to the future to make sure it can create the jobs of the future that are necessary. In respect of the circumstances facing employees who are made redundant, we have been monitoring each company’s redundancy package and, as a I explained to the house on a previous occasion, the BHP Billiton redundancy package was, in my view, quite a good package: 16 weeks’ pay, plus two weeks for every year of service, and it also purchased back houses from employees. The government is ensuring that companies that are putting off people are providing adequate and proper redundancy provisions. That is happening. In the longer term, the federal government is involved with unemployment benefits, and they will be provided as a matter of right and as a matter of course in the event that the economy does not turn around quickly. Finally, I can say that there are the occasional glimpses of silver lining in the clouds. I would not want to try to predict the future of the world economy, although the government has high hopes for projects that I talked about in a previous debate, such as Oakajee, the significant work that has been done in the Browse Basin, the potential for Gorgon, and a number of significant developments with BHP, Rio Tinto, Fortescue Metals and other companies in respect of iron ore in the Pilbara. There are some silver linings in the clouds, but obviously the government cannot employ all those people who have lost their jobs. All we can do is help make sure that jobs are available.
(2) What assistance will the government provide to these workers? (3) What plans will the government put into place to address not just these job cuts, but also those already announced? Hon NORMAN MOORE replied: (1)-(3) I was advised by letter today, and the letter was sent up to Parliament House, as I was here all day. I received it at 10.30 am or thereabouts—it may have been a bit later. The letter advised me that Iluka was adjusting its operations and, as a result of that, 135 positions would be made redundant and 80 contractor positions made redundant. The company advised me that it has its own comprehensive arrangements for career transition, financial planning and counselling advice, although the company is very willing to work with relevant government agencies to assist employees who will be made redundant. The government, like everybody else, is concerned about the increased number of mining employees who are losing their jobs as a result of the economic downturn affecting the world. As I said on a previous occasion, there is very little that the state government can do about commodity prices and very little it can do about resurrecting the world economy and thereby creating the demand for our commodities that existed prior to this downturn. However, we can work very hard on making sure that we put in place strategies that will encourage mining companies to begin developments—a number would in fact go into business now once a number of approvals have been put in place. As I read out earlier today, the government has announced that $80 million will be spent over five years—just a small amount this year, and most will be spent in the next four years—to encourage drilling by drilling companies, and that will pick up employment in the drilling industry. It will also assist, in particular, junior miners to explore in greenfields areas. The intention of all this, along with the significant increase in funding to the Geological Survey of Western Australia, is to use this period of downturn to improve and enhance the state’s understanding of its geology. I recall back in 2001, at the time of the Asian economic crisis and the downturn in the mining industry, announcing a Liberal Party initiative of $66 million for the Geological Survey. The intention of that investment was to use the downturn to pick up the slack in the drilling industry and to assist small mining companies to begin to carry out more exploration in Western Australia, and as a result of that hopefully find the ore bodies that would provide for the growth in the future. The interesting thing about Western Australia is that it is enormously wealthy in terms of resources, but it is largely unexplored. Vast areas of the state will now be explored as a result of this injection of funds into that activity. I know that does not solve the problems of those 5 000 employees who have lost their jobs as a result of the economic downturn, but it will provide employment for people in drilling companies who are not getting any work, and it will provide assistance to those companies involved in aeromagnetic surveys and all the other things that the Geological Survey will be engaged in. The government is looking to the future to make sure it can create the jobs of the future that are necessary. In respect of the circumstances facing employees who are made redundant, we have been monitoring each company’s redundancy package and, as a I explained to the house on a previous occasion, the BHP Billiton redundancy package was, in my view, quite a good package: 16 weeks’ pay, plus two weeks for every year of service, and it also purchased back houses from employees. The government is ensuring that companies that are putting off people are providing adequate and proper redundancy provisions. That is happening. In the longer term, the federal government is involved with unemployment benefits, and they will be provided as a matter of right and as a matter of course in the event that the economy does not turn around quickly. Finally, I can say that there are the occasional glimpses of silver lining in the clouds. I would not want to try to predict the future of the world economy, although the government has high hopes for projects that I talked about in a previous debate, such as Oakajee, the significant work that has been done in the Browse Basin, the potential for Gorgon, and a number of significant developments with BHP, Rio Tinto, Fortescue Metals and other companies in respect of iron ore in the Pilbara. There are some silver linings in the clouds, but obviously the government cannot employ all those people who have lost their jobs. All we can do is help make sure that jobs are available.
(3) What plans will the government put into place to address not just these job cuts, but also those already announced? Hon NORMAN MOORE replied: (1)-(3) I was advised by letter today, and the letter was sent up to Parliament House, as I was here all day. I received it at 10.30 am or thereabouts—it may have been a bit later. The letter advised me that Iluka was adjusting its operations and, as a result of that, 135 positions would be made redundant and 80 contractor positions made redundant. The company advised me that it has its own comprehensive arrangements for career transition, financial planning and counselling advice, although the company is very willing to work with relevant government agencies to assist employees who will be made redundant. The government, like everybody else, is concerned about the increased number of mining employees who are losing their jobs as a result of the economic downturn affecting the world. As I said on a previous occasion, there is very little that the state government can do about commodity prices and very little it can do about resurrecting the world economy and thereby creating the demand for our commodities that existed prior to this downturn. However, we can work very hard on making sure that we put in place strategies that will encourage mining companies to begin developments—a number would in fact go into business now once a number of approvals have been put in place. As I read out earlier today, the government has announced that $80 million will be spent over five years—just a small amount this year, and most will be spent in the next four years—to encourage drilling by drilling companies, and that will pick up employment in the drilling industry. It will also assist, in particular, junior miners to explore in greenfields areas. The intention of all this, along with the significant increase in funding to the Geological Survey of Western Australia, is to use this period of downturn to improve and enhance the state’s understanding of its geology. I recall back in 2001, at the time of the Asian economic crisis and the downturn in the mining industry, announcing a Liberal Party initiative of $66 million for the Geological Survey. The intention of that investment was to use the downturn to pick up the slack in the drilling industry and to assist small mining companies to begin to carry out more exploration in Western Australia, and as a result of that hopefully find the ore bodies that would provide for the growth in the future. The interesting thing about Western Australia is that it is enormously wealthy in terms of resources, but it is largely unexplored. Vast areas of the state will now be explored as a result of this injection of funds into that activity. I know that does not solve the problems of those 5 000 employees who have lost their jobs as a result of the economic downturn, but it will provide employment for people in drilling companies who are not getting any work, and it will provide assistance to those companies involved in aeromagnetic surveys and all the other things that the Geological Survey will be engaged in. The government is looking to the future to make sure it can create the jobs of the future that are necessary. In respect of the circumstances facing employees who are made redundant, we have been monitoring each company’s redundancy package and, as a I explained to the house on a previous occasion, the BHP Billiton redundancy package was, in my view, quite a good package: 16 weeks’ pay, plus two weeks for every year of service, and it also purchased back houses from employees. The government is ensuring that companies that are putting off people are providing adequate and proper redundancy provisions. That is happening. In the longer term, the federal government is involved with unemployment benefits, and they will be provided as a matter of right and as a matter of course in the event that the economy does not turn around quickly. Finally, I can say that there are the occasional glimpses of silver lining in the clouds. I would not want to try to predict the future of the world economy, although the government has high hopes for projects that I talked about in a previous debate, such as Oakajee, the significant work that has been done in the Browse Basin, the potential for Gorgon, and a number of significant developments with BHP, Rio Tinto, Fortescue Metals and other companies in respect of iron ore in the Pilbara. There are some silver linings in the clouds, but obviously the government cannot employ all those people who have lost their jobs. All we can do is help make sure that jobs are available.
Hon NORMAN MOORE replied: (1)-(3) I was advised by letter today, and the letter was sent up to Parliament House, as I was here all day. I received it at 10.30 am or thereabouts—it may have been a bit later. The letter advised me that Iluka was adjusting its operations and, as a result of that, 135 positions would be made redundant and 80 contractor positions made redundant. The company advised me that it has its own comprehensive arrangements for career transition, financial planning and counselling advice, although the company is very willing to work with relevant government agencies to assist employees who will be made redundant. The government, like everybody else, is concerned about the increased number of mining employees who are losing their jobs as a result of the economic downturn affecting the world. As I said on a previous occasion, there is very little that the state government can do about commodity prices and very little it can do about resurrecting the world economy and thereby creating the demand for our commodities that existed prior to this downturn. However, we can work very hard on making sure that we put in place strategies that will encourage mining companies to begin developments—a number would in fact go into business now once a number of approvals have been put in place. As I read out earlier today, the government has announced that $80 million will be spent over five years—just a small amount this year, and most will be spent in the next four years—to encourage drilling by drilling companies, and that will pick up employment in the drilling industry. It will also assist, in particular, junior miners to explore in greenfields areas. The intention of all this, along with the significant increase in funding to the Geological Survey of Western Australia, is to use this period of downturn to improve and enhance the state’s understanding of its geology. I recall back in 2001, at the time of the Asian economic crisis and the downturn in the mining industry, announcing a Liberal Party initiative of $66 million for the Geological Survey. The intention of that investment was to use the downturn to pick up the slack in the drilling industry and to assist small mining companies to begin to carry out more exploration in Western Australia, and as a result of that hopefully find the ore bodies that would provide for the growth in the future. The interesting thing about Western Australia is that it is enormously wealthy in terms of resources, but it is largely unexplored. Vast areas of the state will now be explored as a result of this injection of funds into that activity. I know that does not solve the problems of those 5 000 employees who have lost their jobs as a result of the economic downturn, but it will provide employment for people in drilling companies who are not getting any work, and it will provide assistance to those companies involved in aeromagnetic surveys and all the other things that the Geological Survey will be engaged in. The government is looking to the future to make sure it can create the jobs of the future that are necessary. In respect of the circumstances facing employees who are made redundant, we have been monitoring each company’s redundancy package and, as a I explained to the house on a previous occasion, the BHP Billiton redundancy package was, in my view, quite a good package: 16 weeks’ pay, plus two weeks for every year of service, and it also purchased back houses from employees. The government is ensuring that companies that are putting off people are providing adequate and proper redundancy provisions. That is happening. In the longer term, the federal government is involved with unemployment benefits, and they will be provided as a matter of right and as a matter of course in the event that the economy does not turn around quickly. Finally, I can say that there are the occasional glimpses of silver lining in the clouds. I would not want to try to predict the future of the world economy, although the government has high hopes for projects that I talked about in a previous debate, such as Oakajee, the significant work that has been done in the Browse Basin, the potential for Gorgon, and a number of significant developments with BHP, Rio Tinto, Fortescue Metals and other companies in respect of iron ore in the Pilbara. There are some silver linings in the clouds, but obviously the government cannot employ all those people who have lost their jobs. All we can do is help make sure that jobs are available.
(1)-(3) I was advised by letter today, and the letter was sent up to Parliament House, as I was here all day. I received it at 10.30 am or thereabouts—it may have been a bit later. The letter advised me that Iluka was adjusting its operations and, as a result of that, 135 positions would be made redundant and 80 contractor positions made redundant. The company advised me that it has its own comprehensive arrangements for career transition, financial planning and counselling advice, although the company is very willing to work with relevant government agencies to assist employees who will be made redundant. The government, like everybody else, is concerned about the increased number of mining employees who are losing their jobs as a result of the economic downturn affecting the world. As I said on a previous occasion, there is very little that the state government can do about commodity prices and very little it can do about resurrecting the world economy and thereby creating the demand for our commodities that existed prior to this downturn. However, we can work very hard on making sure that we put in place strategies that will encourage mining companies to begin developments—a number would in fact go into business now once a number of approvals have been put in place. As I read out earlier today, the government has announced that $80 million will be spent over five years—just a small amount this year, and most will be spent in the next four years—to encourage drilling by drilling companies, and that will pick up employment in the drilling industry. It will also assist, in particular, junior miners to explore in greenfields areas. The intention of all this, along with the significant increase in funding to the Geological Survey of Western Australia, is to use this period of downturn to improve and enhance the state’s understanding of its geology. I recall back in 2001, at the time of the Asian economic crisis and the downturn in the mining industry, announcing a Liberal Party initiative of $66 million for the Geological Survey. The intention of that investment was to use the downturn to pick up the slack in the drilling industry and to assist small mining companies to begin to carry out more exploration in Western Australia, and as a result of that hopefully find the ore bodies that would provide for the growth in the future. The interesting thing about Western Australia is that it is enormously wealthy in terms of resources, but it is largely unexplored. Vast areas of the state will now be explored as a result of this injection of funds into that activity. I know that does not solve the problems of those 5 000 employees who have lost their jobs as a result of the economic downturn, but it will provide employment for people in drilling companies who are not getting any work, and it will provide assistance to those companies involved in aeromagnetic surveys and all the other things that the Geological Survey will be engaged in. The government is looking to the future to make sure it can create the jobs of the future that are necessary. In respect of the circumstances facing employees who are made redundant, we have been monitoring each company’s redundancy package and, as a I explained to the house on a previous occasion, the BHP Billiton redundancy package was, in my view, quite a good package: 16 weeks’ pay, plus two weeks for every year of service, and it also purchased back houses from employees. The government is ensuring that companies that are putting off people are providing adequate and proper redundancy provisions. That is happening. In the longer term, the federal government is involved with unemployment benefits, and they will be provided as a matter of right and as a matter of course in the event that the economy does not turn around quickly. Finally, I can say that there are the occasional glimpses of silver lining in the clouds. I would not want to try to predict the future of the world economy, although the government has high hopes for projects that I talked about in a previous debate, such as Oakajee, the significant work that has been done in the Browse Basin, the potential for Gorgon, and a number of significant developments with BHP, Rio Tinto, Fortescue Metals and other companies in respect of iron ore in the Pilbara. There are some silver linings in the clouds, but obviously the government cannot employ all those people who have lost their jobs. All we can do is help make sure that jobs are available.
As I read out earlier today, the government has announced that $80 million will be spent over five years—just a small amount this year, and most will be spent in the next four years—to encourage drilling by drilling companies, and that will pick up employment in the drilling industry. It will also assist, in particular, junior miners to explore in greenfields areas. The intention of all this, along with the significant increase in funding to the Geological Survey of Western Australia, is to use this period of downturn to improve and enhance the state’s understanding of its geology. I recall back in 2001, at the time of the Asian economic crisis and the downturn in the mining industry, announcing a Liberal Party initiative of $66 million for the Geological Survey. The intention of that investment was to use the downturn to pick up the slack in the drilling industry and to assist small mining companies to begin to carry out more exploration in Western Australia, and as a result of that hopefully find the ore bodies that would provide for the growth in the future. The interesting thing about Western Australia is that it is enormously wealthy in terms of resources, but it is largely unexplored. Vast areas of the state will now be explored as a result of this injection of funds into that activity. I know that does not solve the problems of those 5 000 employees who have lost their jobs as a result of the economic downturn, but it will provide employment for people in drilling companies who are not getting any work, and it will provide assistance to those companies involved in aeromagnetic surveys and all the other things that the Geological Survey will be engaged in. The government is looking to the future to make sure it can create the jobs of the future that are necessary. In respect of the circumstances facing employees who are made redundant, we have been monitoring each company’s redundancy package and, as a I explained to the house on a previous occasion, the BHP Billiton redundancy package was, in my view, quite a good package: 16 weeks’ pay, plus two weeks for every year of service, and it also purchased back houses from employees. The government is ensuring that companies that are putting off people are providing adequate and proper redundancy provisions. That is happening. In the longer term, the federal government is involved with unemployment benefits, and they will be provided as a matter of right and as a matter of course in the event that the economy does not turn around quickly. Finally, I can say that there are the occasional glimpses of silver lining in the clouds. I would not want to try to predict the future of the world economy, although the government has high hopes for projects that I talked about in a previous debate, such as Oakajee, the significant work that has been done in the Browse Basin, the potential for Gorgon, and a number of significant developments with BHP, Rio Tinto, Fortescue Metals and other companies in respect of iron ore in the Pilbara. There are some silver linings in the clouds, but obviously the government cannot employ all those people who have lost their jobs. All we can do is help make sure that jobs are available.
I recall back in 2001, at the time of the Asian economic crisis and the downturn in the mining industry, announcing a Liberal Party initiative of $66 million for the Geological Survey. The intention of that investment was to use the downturn to pick up the slack in the drilling industry and to assist small mining companies to begin to carry out more exploration in Western Australia, and as a result of that hopefully find the ore bodies that would provide for the growth in the future. The interesting thing about Western Australia is that it is enormously wealthy in terms of resources, but it is largely unexplored. Vast areas of the state will now be explored as a result of this injection of funds into that activity. I know that does not solve the problems of those 5 000 employees who have lost their jobs as a result of the economic downturn, but it will provide employment for people in drilling companies who are not getting any work, and it will provide assistance to those companies involved in aeromagnetic surveys and all the other things that the Geological Survey will be engaged in. The government is looking to the future to make sure it can create the jobs of the future that are necessary. In respect of the circumstances facing employees who are made redundant, we have been monitoring each company’s redundancy package and, as a I explained to the house on a previous occasion, the BHP Billiton redundancy package was, in my view, quite a good package: 16 weeks’ pay, plus two weeks for every year of service, and it also purchased back houses from employees. The government is ensuring that companies that are putting off people are providing adequate and proper redundancy provisions. That is happening. In the longer term, the federal government is involved with unemployment benefits, and they will be provided as a matter of right and as a matter of course in the event that the economy does not turn around quickly. Finally, I can say that there are the occasional glimpses of silver lining in the clouds. I would not want to try to predict the future of the world economy, although the government has high hopes for projects that I talked about in a previous debate, such as Oakajee, the significant work that has been done in the Browse Basin, the potential for Gorgon, and a number of significant developments with BHP, Rio Tinto, Fortescue Metals and other companies in respect of iron ore in the Pilbara. There are some silver linings in the clouds, but obviously the government cannot employ all those people who have lost their jobs. All we can do is help make sure that jobs are available.
The interesting thing about Western Australia is that it is enormously wealthy in terms of resources, but it is largely unexplored. Vast areas of the state will now be explored as a result of this injection of funds into that activity. I know that does not solve the problems of those 5 000 employees who have lost their jobs as a result of the economic downturn, but it will provide employment for people in drilling companies who are not getting any work, and it will provide assistance to those companies involved in aeromagnetic surveys and all the other things that the Geological Survey will be engaged in. The government is looking to the future to make sure it can create the jobs of the future that are necessary. In respect of the circumstances facing employees who are made redundant, we have been monitoring each company’s redundancy package and, as a I explained to the house on a previous occasion, the BHP Billiton redundancy package was, in my view, quite a good package: 16 weeks’ pay, plus two weeks for every year of service, and it also purchased back houses from employees. The government is ensuring that companies that are putting off people are providing adequate and proper redundancy provisions. That is happening. In the longer term, the federal government is involved with unemployment benefits, and they will be provided as a matter of right and as a matter of course in the event that the economy does not turn around quickly. Finally, I can say that there are the occasional glimpses of silver lining in the clouds. I would not want to try to predict the future of the world economy, although the government has high hopes for projects that I talked about in a previous debate, such as Oakajee, the significant work that has been done in the Browse Basin, the potential for Gorgon, and a number of significant developments with BHP, Rio Tinto, Fortescue Metals and other companies in respect of iron ore in the Pilbara. There are some silver linings in the clouds, but obviously the government cannot employ all those people who have lost their jobs. All we can do is help make sure that jobs are available.
In respect of the circumstances facing employees who are made redundant, we have been monitoring each company’s redundancy package and, as a I explained to the house on a previous occasion, the BHP Billiton redundancy package was, in my view, quite a good package: 16 weeks’ pay, plus two weeks for every year of service, and it also purchased back houses from employees. The government is ensuring that companies that are putting off people are providing adequate and proper redundancy provisions. That is happening. In the longer term, the federal government is involved with unemployment benefits, and they will be provided as a matter of right and as a matter of course in the event that the economy does not turn around quickly. Finally, I can say that there are the occasional glimpses of silver lining in the clouds. I would not want to try to predict the future of the world economy, although the government has high hopes for projects that I talked about in a previous debate, such as Oakajee, the significant work that has been done in the Browse Basin, the potential for Gorgon, and a number of significant developments with BHP, Rio Tinto, Fortescue Metals and other companies in respect of iron ore in the Pilbara. There are some silver linings in the clouds, but obviously the government cannot employ all those people who have lost their jobs. All we can do is help make sure that jobs are available.
In the longer term, the federal government is involved with unemployment benefits, and they will be provided as a matter of right and as a matter of course in the event that the economy does not turn around quickly. Finally, I can say that there are the occasional glimpses of silver lining in the clouds. I would not want to try to predict the future of the world economy, although the government has high hopes for projects that I talked about in a previous debate, such as Oakajee, the significant work that has been done in the Browse Basin, the potential for Gorgon, and a number of significant developments with BHP, Rio Tinto, Fortescue Metals and other companies in respect of iron ore in the Pilbara. There are some silver linings in the clouds, but obviously the government cannot employ all those people who have lost their jobs. All we can do is help make sure that jobs are available.
Finally, I can say that there are the occasional glimpses of silver lining in the clouds. I would not want to try to predict the future of the world economy, although the government has high hopes for projects that I talked about in a previous debate, such as Oakajee, the significant work that has been done in the Browse Basin, the potential for Gorgon, and a number of significant developments with BHP, Rio Tinto, Fortescue Metals and other companies in respect of iron ore in the Pilbara. There are some silver linings in the clouds, but obviously the government cannot employ all those people who have lost their jobs. All we can do is help make sure that jobs are available.
(1) When was the minister first advised of Iluka’s decision? (2) What assistance will the government provide to these workers? (3) What plans will the government put into place to address not just these job cuts, but also those already announced? Hon NORMAN MOORE replied: (1)-(3) I was advised by letter today, and the letter was sent up to Parliament House, as I was here all day. I received it at 10.30 am or thereabouts—it may have been a bit later. The letter advised me that Iluka was adjusting its operations and, as a result of that, 135 positions would be made redundant and 80 contractor positions made redundant. The company advised me that it has its own comprehensive arrangements for career transition, financial planning and counselling advice, although the company is very willing to work with relevant government agencies to assist employees who will be made redundant. The government, like everybody else, is concerned about the increased number of mining employees who are losing their jobs as a result of the economic downturn affecting the world. As I said on a previous occasion, there is very little that the state government can do about commodity prices and very little it can do about resurrecting the world economy and thereby creating the demand for our commodities that existed prior to this downturn. However, we can work very hard on making sure that we put in place strategies that will encourage mining companies to begin developments—a number would in fact go into business now once a number of approvals have been put in place. As I read out earlier today, the government has announced that $80 million will be spent over five years—just a small amount this year, and most will be spent in the next four years—to encourage drilling by drilling companies, and that will pick up employment in the drilling industry. It will also assist, in particular, junior miners to explore in greenfields areas. The intention of all this, along with the significant increase in funding to the Geological Survey of Western Australia, is to use this period of downturn to improve and enhance the state’s understanding of its geology. I recall back in 2001, at the time of the Asian economic crisis and the downturn in the mining industry, announcing a Liberal Party initiative of $66 million for the Geological Survey. The intention of that investment was to use the downturn to pick up the slack in the drilling industry and to assist small mining companies to begin to carry out more exploration in Western Australia, and as a result of that hopefully find the ore bodies that would provide for the growth in the future. The interesting thing about Western Australia is that it is enormously wealthy in terms of resources, but it is largely unexplored. Vast areas of the state will now be explored as a result of this injection of funds into that activity. I know that does not solve the problems of those 5 000 employees who have lost their jobs as a result of the economic downturn, but it will provide employment for people in drilling companies who are not getting any work, and it will provide assistance to those companies involved in aeromagnetic surveys and all the other things that the Geological Survey will be engaged in. The government is looking to the future to make sure it can create the jobs of the future that are necessary. In respect of the circumstances facing employees who are made redundant, we have been monitoring each company’s redundancy package and, as a I explained to the house on a previous occasion, the BHP Billiton redundancy package was, in my view, quite a good package: 16 weeks’ pay, plus two weeks for every year of service, and it also purchased back houses from employees. The government is ensuring that companies that are putting off people are providing adequate and proper redundancy provisions. That is happening. In the longer term, the federal government is involved with unemployment benefits, and they will be provided as a matter of right and as a matter of course in the event that the economy does not turn around quickly. Finally, I can say that there are the occasional glimpses of silver lining in the clouds. I would not want to try to predict the future of the world economy, although the government has high hopes for projects that I talked about in a previous debate, such as Oakajee, the significant work that has been done in the Browse Basin, the potential for Gorgon, and a number of significant developments with BHP, Rio Tinto, Fortescue Metals and other companies in respect of iron ore in the Pilbara. There are some silver linings in the clouds, but obviously the government cannot employ all those people who have lost their jobs. All we can do is help make sure that jobs are available.
(2) What assistance will the government provide to these workers? (3) What plans will the government put into place to address not just these job cuts, but also those already announced? Hon NORMAN MOORE replied: (1)-(3) I was advised by letter today, and the letter was sent up to Parliament House, as I was here all day. I received it at 10.30 am or thereabouts—it may have been a bit later. The letter advised me that Iluka was adjusting its operations and, as a result of that, 135 positions would be made redundant and 80 contractor positions made redundant. The company advised me that it has its own comprehensive arrangements for career transition, financial planning and counselling advice, although the company is very willing to work with relevant government agencies to assist employees who will be made redundant. The government, like everybody else, is concerned about the increased number of mining employees who are losing their jobs as a result of the economic downturn affecting the world. As I said on a previous occasion, there is very little that the state government can do about commodity prices and very little it can do about resurrecting the world economy and thereby creating the demand for our commodities that existed prior to this downturn. However, we can work very hard on making sure that we put in place strategies that will encourage mining companies to begin developments—a number would in fact go into business now once a number of approvals have been put in place. As I read out earlier today, the government has announced that $80 million will be spent over five years—just a small amount this year, and most will be spent in the next four years—to encourage drilling by drilling companies, and that will pick up employment in the drilling industry. It will also assist, in particular, junior miners to explore in greenfields areas. The intention of all this, along with the significant increase in funding to the Geological Survey of Western Australia, is to use this period of downturn to improve and enhance the state’s understanding of its geology. I recall back in 2001, at the time of the Asian economic crisis and the downturn in the mining industry, announcing a Liberal Party initiative of $66 million for the Geological Survey. The intention of that investment was to use the downturn to pick up the slack in the drilling industry and to assist small mining companies to begin to carry out more exploration in Western Australia, and as a result of that hopefully find the ore bodies that would provide for the growth in the future. The interesting thing about Western Australia is that it is enormously wealthy in terms of resources, but it is largely unexplored. Vast areas of the state will now be explored as a result of this injection of funds into that activity. I know that does not solve the problems of those 5 000 employees who have lost their jobs as a result of the economic downturn, but it will provide employment for people in drilling companies who are not getting any work, and it will provide assistance to those companies involved in aeromagnetic surveys and all the other things that the Geological Survey will be engaged in. The government is looking to the future to make sure it can create the jobs of the future that are necessary. In respect of the circumstances facing employees who are made redundant, we have been monitoring each company’s redundancy package and, as a I explained to the house on a previous occasion, the BHP Billiton redundancy package was, in my view, quite a good package: 16 weeks’ pay, plus two weeks for every year of service, and it also purchased back houses from employees. The government is ensuring that companies that are putting off people are providing adequate and proper redundancy provisions. That is happening. In the longer term, the federal government is involved with unemployment benefits, and they will be provided as a matter of right and as a matter of course in the event that the economy does not turn around quickly. Finally, I can say that there are the occasional glimpses of silver lining in the clouds. I would not want to try to predict the future of the world economy, although the government has high hopes for projects that I talked about in a previous debate, such as Oakajee, the significant work that has been done in the Browse Basin, the potential for Gorgon, and a number of significant developments with BHP, Rio Tinto, Fortescue Metals and other companies in respect of iron ore in the Pilbara. There are some silver linings in the clouds, but obviously the government cannot employ all those people who have lost their jobs. All we can do is help make sure that jobs are available.
(3) What plans will the government put into place to address not just these job cuts, but also those already announced? Hon NORMAN MOORE replied: (1)-(3) I was advised by letter today, and the letter was sent up to Parliament House, as I was here all day. I received it at 10.30 am or thereabouts—it may have been a bit later. The letter advised me that Iluka was adjusting its operations and, as a result of that, 135 positions would be made redundant and 80 contractor positions made redundant. The company advised me that it has its own comprehensive arrangements for career transition, financial planning and counselling advice, although the company is very willing to work with relevant government agencies to assist employees who will be made redundant. The government, like everybody else, is concerned about the increased number of mining employees who are losing their jobs as a result of the economic downturn affecting the world. As I said on a previous occasion, there is very little that the state government can do about commodity prices and very little it can do about resurrecting the world economy and thereby creating the demand for our commodities that existed prior to this downturn. However, we can work very hard on making sure that we put in place strategies that will encourage mining companies to begin developments—a number would in fact go into business now once a number of approvals have been put in place. As I read out earlier today, the government has announced that $80 million will be spent over five years—just a small amount this year, and most will be spent in the next four years—to encourage drilling by drilling companies, and that will pick up employment in the drilling industry. It will also assist, in particular, junior miners to explore in greenfields areas. The intention of all this, along with the significant increase in funding to the Geological Survey of Western Australia, is to use this period of downturn to improve and enhance the state’s understanding of its geology. I recall back in 2001, at the time of the Asian economic crisis and the downturn in the mining industry, announcing a Liberal Party initiative of $66 million for the Geological Survey. The intention of that investment was to use the downturn to pick up the slack in the drilling industry and to assist small mining companies to begin to carry out more exploration in Western Australia, and as a result of that hopefully find the ore bodies that would provide for the growth in the future. The interesting thing about Western Australia is that it is enormously wealthy in terms of resources, but it is largely unexplored. Vast areas of the state will now be explored as a result of this injection of funds into that activity. I know that does not solve the problems of those 5 000 employees who have lost their jobs as a result of the economic downturn, but it will provide employment for people in drilling companies who are not getting any work, and it will provide assistance to those companies involved in aeromagnetic surveys and all the other things that the Geological Survey will be engaged in. The government is looking to the future to make sure it can create the jobs of the future that are necessary. In respect of the circumstances facing employees who are made redundant, we have been monitoring each company’s redundancy package and, as a I explained to the house on a previous occasion, the BHP Billiton redundancy package was, in my view, quite a good package: 16 weeks’ pay, plus two weeks for every year of service, and it also purchased back houses from employees. The government is ensuring that companies that are putting off people are providing adequate and proper redundancy provisions. That is happening. In the longer term, the federal government is involved with unemployment benefits, and they will be provided as a matter of right and as a matter of course in the event that the economy does not turn around quickly. Finally, I can say that there are the occasional glimpses of silver lining in the clouds. I would not want to try to predict the future of the world economy, although the government has high hopes for projects that I talked about in a previous debate, such as Oakajee, the significant work that has been done in the Browse Basin, the potential for Gorgon, and a number of significant developments with BHP, Rio Tinto, Fortescue Metals and other companies in respect of iron ore in the Pilbara. There are some silver linings in the clouds, but obviously the government cannot employ all those people who have lost their jobs. All we can do is help make sure that jobs are available.
Hon NORMAN MOORE replied: (1)-(3) I was advised by letter today, and the letter was sent up to Parliament House, as I was here all day. I received it at 10.30 am or thereabouts—it may have been a bit later. The letter advised me that Iluka was adjusting its operations and, as a result of that, 135 positions would be made redundant and 80 contractor positions made redundant. The company advised me that it has its own comprehensive arrangements for career transition, financial planning and counselling advice, although the company is very willing to work with relevant government agencies to assist employees who will be made redundant. The government, like everybody else, is concerned about the increased number of mining employees who are losing their jobs as a result of the economic downturn affecting the world. As I said on a previous occasion, there is very little that the state government can do about commodity prices and very little it can do about resurrecting the world economy and thereby creating the demand for our commodities that existed prior to this downturn. However, we can work very hard on making sure that we put in place strategies that will encourage mining companies to begin developments—a number would in fact go into business now once a number of approvals have been put in place. As I read out earlier today, the government has announced that $80 million will be spent over five years—just a small amount this year, and most will be spent in the next four years—to encourage drilling by drilling companies, and that will pick up employment in the drilling industry. It will also assist, in particular, junior miners to explore in greenfields areas. The intention of all this, along with the significant increase in funding to the Geological Survey of Western Australia, is to use this period of downturn to improve and enhance the state’s understanding of its geology. I recall back in 2001, at the time of the Asian economic crisis and the downturn in the mining industry, announcing a Liberal Party initiative of $66 million for the Geological Survey. The intention of that investment was to use the downturn to pick up the slack in the drilling industry and to assist small mining companies to begin to carry out more exploration in Western Australia, and as a result of that hopefully find the ore bodies that would provide for the growth in the future. The interesting thing about Western Australia is that it is enormously wealthy in terms of resources, but it is largely unexplored. Vast areas of the state will now be explored as a result of this injection of funds into that activity. I know that does not solve the problems of those 5 000 employees who have lost their jobs as a result of the economic downturn, but it will provide employment for people in drilling companies who are not getting any work, and it will provide assistance to those companies involved in aeromagnetic surveys and all the other things that the Geological Survey will be engaged in. The government is looking to the future to make sure it can create the jobs of the future that are necessary. In respect of the circumstances facing employees who are made redundant, we have been monitoring each company’s redundancy package and, as a I explained to the house on a previous occasion, the BHP Billiton redundancy package was, in my view, quite a good package: 16 weeks’ pay, plus two weeks for every year of service, and it also purchased back houses from employees. The government is ensuring that companies that are putting off people are providing adequate and proper redundancy provisions. That is happening. In the longer term, the federal government is involved with unemployment benefits, and they will be provided as a matter of right and as a matter of course in the event that the economy does not turn around quickly. Finally, I can say that there are the occasional glimpses of silver lining in the clouds. I would not want to try to predict the future of the world economy, although the government has high hopes for projects that I talked about in a previous debate, such as Oakajee, the significant work that has been done in the Browse Basin, the potential for Gorgon, and a number of significant developments with BHP, Rio Tinto, Fortescue Metals and other companies in respect of iron ore in the Pilbara. There are some silver linings in the clouds, but obviously the government cannot employ all those people who have lost their jobs. All we can do is help make sure that jobs are available.
(1)-(3) I was advised by letter today, and the letter was sent up to Parliament House, as I was here all day. I received it at 10.30 am or thereabouts—it may have been a bit later. The letter advised me that Iluka was adjusting its operations and, as a result of that, 135 positions would be made redundant and 80 contractor positions made redundant. The company advised me that it has its own comprehensive arrangements for career transition, financial planning and counselling advice, although the company is very willing to work with relevant government agencies to assist employees who will be made redundant. The government, like everybody else, is concerned about the increased number of mining employees who are losing their jobs as a result of the economic downturn affecting the world. As I said on a previous occasion, there is very little that the state government can do about commodity prices and very little it can do about resurrecting the world economy and thereby creating the demand for our commodities that existed prior to this downturn. However, we can work very hard on making sure that we put in place strategies that will encourage mining companies to begin developments—a number would in fact go into business now once a number of approvals have been put in place. As I read out earlier today, the government has announced that $80 million will be spent over five years—just a small amount this year, and most will be spent in the next four years—to encourage drilling by drilling companies, and that will pick up employment in the drilling industry. It will also assist, in particular, junior miners to explore in greenfields areas. The intention of all this, along with the significant increase in funding to the Geological Survey of Western Australia, is to use this period of downturn to improve and enhance the state’s understanding of its geology. I recall back in 2001, at the time of the Asian economic crisis and the downturn in the mining industry, announcing a Liberal Party initiative of $66 million for the Geological Survey. The intention of that investment was to use the downturn to pick up the slack in the drilling industry and to assist small mining companies to begin to carry out more exploration in Western Australia, and as a result of that hopefully find the ore bodies that would provide for the growth in the future. The interesting thing about Western Australia is that it is enormously wealthy in terms of resources, but it is largely unexplored. Vast areas of the state will now be explored as a result of this injection of funds into that activity. I know that does not solve the problems of those 5 000 employees who have lost their jobs as a result of the economic downturn, but it will provide employment for people in drilling companies who are not getting any work, and it will provide assistance to those companies involved in aeromagnetic surveys and all the other things that the Geological Survey will be engaged in. The government is looking to the future to make sure it can create the jobs of the future that are necessary. In respect of the circumstances facing employees who are made redundant, we have been monitoring each company’s redundancy package and, as a I explained to the house on a previous occasion, the BHP Billiton redundancy package was, in my view, quite a good package: 16 weeks’ pay, plus two weeks for every year of service, and it also purchased back houses from employees. The government is ensuring that companies that are putting off people are providing adequate and proper redundancy provisions. That is happening. In the longer term, the federal government is involved with unemployment benefits, and they will be provided as a matter of right and as a matter of course in the event that the economy does not turn around quickly. Finally, I can say that there are the occasional glimpses of silver lining in the clouds. I would not want to try to predict the future of the world economy, although the government has high hopes for projects that I talked about in a previous debate, such as Oakajee, the significant work that has been done in the Browse Basin, the potential for Gorgon, and a number of significant developments with BHP, Rio Tinto, Fortescue Metals and other companies in respect of iron ore in the Pilbara. There are some silver linings in the clouds, but obviously the government cannot employ all those people who have lost their jobs. All we can do is help make sure that jobs are available.
As I read out earlier today, the government has announced that $80 million will be spent over five years—just a small amount this year, and most will be spent in the next four years—to encourage drilling by drilling companies, and that will pick up employment in the drilling industry. It will also assist, in particular, junior miners to explore in greenfields areas. The intention of all this, along with the significant increase in funding to the Geological Survey of Western Australia, is to use this period of downturn to improve and enhance the state’s understanding of its geology. I recall back in 2001, at the time of the Asian economic crisis and the downturn in the mining industry, announcing a Liberal Party initiative of $66 million for the Geological Survey. The intention of that investment was to use the downturn to pick up the slack in the drilling industry and to assist small mining companies to begin to carry out more exploration in Western Australia, and as a result of that hopefully find the ore bodies that would provide for the growth in the future. The interesting thing about Western Australia is that it is enormously wealthy in terms of resources, but it is largely unexplored. Vast areas of the state will now be explored as a result of this injection of funds into that activity. I know that does not solve the problems of those 5 000 employees who have lost their jobs as a result of the economic downturn, but it will provide employment for people in drilling companies who are not getting any work, and it will provide assistance to those companies involved in aeromagnetic surveys and all the other things that the Geological Survey will be engaged in. The government is looking to the future to make sure it can create the jobs of the future that are necessary. In respect of the circumstances facing employees who are made redundant, we have been monitoring each company’s redundancy package and, as a I explained to the house on a previous occasion, the BHP Billiton redundancy package was, in my view, quite a good package: 16 weeks’ pay, plus two weeks for every year of service, and it also purchased back houses from employees. The government is ensuring that companies that are putting off people are providing adequate and proper redundancy provisions. That is happening. In the longer term, the federal government is involved with unemployment benefits, and they will be provided as a matter of right and as a matter of course in the event that the economy does not turn around quickly. Finally, I can say that there are the occasional glimpses of silver lining in the clouds. I would not want to try to predict the future of the world economy, although the government has high hopes for projects that I talked about in a previous debate, such as Oakajee, the significant work that has been done in the Browse Basin, the potential for Gorgon, and a number of significant developments with BHP, Rio Tinto, Fortescue Metals and other companies in respect of iron ore in the Pilbara. There are some silver linings in the clouds, but obviously the government cannot employ all those people who have lost their jobs. All we can do is help make sure that jobs are available.
I recall back in 2001, at the time of the Asian economic crisis and the downturn in the mining industry, announcing a Liberal Party initiative of $66 million for the Geological Survey. The intention of that investment was to use the downturn to pick up the slack in the drilling industry and to assist small mining companies to begin to carry out more exploration in Western Australia, and as a result of that hopefully find the ore bodies that would provide for the growth in the future. The interesting thing about Western Australia is that it is enormously wealthy in terms of resources, but it is largely unexplored. Vast areas of the state will now be explored as a result of this injection of funds into that activity. I know that does not solve the problems of those 5 000 employees who have lost their jobs as a result of the economic downturn, but it will provide employment for people in drilling companies who are not getting any work, and it will provide assistance to those companies involved in aeromagnetic surveys and all the other things that the Geological Survey will be engaged in. The government is looking to the future to make sure it can create the jobs of the future that are necessary. In respect of the circumstances facing employees who are made redundant, we have been monitoring each company’s redundancy package and, as a I explained to the house on a previous occasion, the BHP Billiton redundancy package was, in my view, quite a good package: 16 weeks’ pay, plus two weeks for every year of service, and it also purchased back houses from employees. The government is ensuring that companies that are putting off people are providing adequate and proper redundancy provisions. That is happening. In the longer term, the federal government is involved with unemployment benefits, and they will be provided as a matter of right and as a matter of course in the event that the economy does not turn around quickly. Finally, I can say that there are the occasional glimpses of silver lining in the clouds. I would not want to try to predict the future of the world economy, although the government has high hopes for projects that I talked about in a previous debate, such as Oakajee, the significant work that has been done in the Browse Basin, the potential for Gorgon, and a number of significant developments with BHP, Rio Tinto, Fortescue Metals and other companies in respect of iron ore in the Pilbara. There are some silver linings in the clouds, but obviously the government cannot employ all those people who have lost their jobs. All we can do is help make sure that jobs are available.
The interesting thing about Western Australia is that it is enormously wealthy in terms of resources, but it is largely unexplored. Vast areas of the state will now be explored as a result of this injection of funds into that activity. I know that does not solve the problems of those 5 000 employees who have lost their jobs as a result of the economic downturn, but it will provide employment for people in drilling companies who are not getting any work, and it will provide assistance to those companies involved in aeromagnetic surveys and all the other things that the Geological Survey will be engaged in. The government is looking to the future to make sure it can create the jobs of the future that are necessary. In respect of the circumstances facing employees who are made redundant, we have been monitoring each company’s redundancy package and, as a I explained to the house on a previous occasion, the BHP Billiton redundancy package was, in my view, quite a good package: 16 weeks’ pay, plus two weeks for every year of service, and it also purchased back houses from employees. The government is ensuring that companies that are putting off people are providing adequate and proper redundancy provisions. That is happening. In the longer term, the federal government is involved with unemployment benefits, and they will be provided as a matter of right and as a matter of course in the event that the economy does not turn around quickly. Finally, I can say that there are the occasional glimpses of silver lining in the clouds. I would not want to try to predict the future of the world economy, although the government has high hopes for projects that I talked about in a previous debate, such as Oakajee, the significant work that has been done in the Browse Basin, the potential for Gorgon, and a number of significant developments with BHP, Rio Tinto, Fortescue Metals and other companies in respect of iron ore in the Pilbara. There are some silver linings in the clouds, but obviously the government cannot employ all those people who have lost their jobs. All we can do is help make sure that jobs are available.
In respect of the circumstances facing employees who are made redundant, we have been monitoring each company’s redundancy package and, as a I explained to the house on a previous occasion, the BHP Billiton redundancy package was, in my view, quite a good package: 16 weeks’ pay, plus two weeks for every year of service, and it also purchased back houses from employees. The government is ensuring that companies that are putting off people are providing adequate and proper redundancy provisions. That is happening. In the longer term, the federal government is involved with unemployment benefits, and they will be provided as a matter of right and as a matter of course in the event that the economy does not turn around quickly. Finally, I can say that there are the occasional glimpses of silver lining in the clouds. I would not want to try to predict the future of the world economy, although the government has high hopes for projects that I talked about in a previous debate, such as Oakajee, the significant work that has been done in the Browse Basin, the potential for Gorgon, and a number of significant developments with BHP, Rio Tinto, Fortescue Metals and other companies in respect of iron ore in the Pilbara. There are some silver linings in the clouds, but obviously the government cannot employ all those people who have lost their jobs. All we can do is help make sure that jobs are available.
In the longer term, the federal government is involved with unemployment benefits, and they will be provided as a matter of right and as a matter of course in the event that the economy does not turn around quickly. Finally, I can say that there are the occasional glimpses of silver lining in the clouds. I would not want to try to predict the future of the world economy, although the government has high hopes for projects that I talked about in a previous debate, such as Oakajee, the significant work that has been done in the Browse Basin, the potential for Gorgon, and a number of significant developments with BHP, Rio Tinto, Fortescue Metals and other companies in respect of iron ore in the Pilbara. There are some silver linings in the clouds, but obviously the government cannot employ all those people who have lost their jobs. All we can do is help make sure that jobs are available.
Finally, I can say that there are the occasional glimpses of silver lining in the clouds. I would not want to try to predict the future of the world economy, although the government has high hopes for projects that I talked about in a previous debate, such as Oakajee, the significant work that has been done in the Browse Basin, the potential for Gorgon, and a number of significant developments with BHP, Rio Tinto, Fortescue Metals and other companies in respect of iron ore in the Pilbara. There are some silver linings in the clouds, but obviously the government cannot employ all those people who have lost their jobs. All we can do is help make sure that jobs are available.
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